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Vermont City Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Vermont City Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.2 
Organization 4.4 
Spectators 4.7
Number of comments: 303 [displaying comments 181 to 191]
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J. S. from Alexandria, VA
(6/4/2007)
"Not good for slower runners" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Vermont City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 I ran this race as a recovery race after some P.F. problems this spring. I finished in about the time I thought I would (within an hour of my P.R.), but I've never seen a race that shuts down its finish line so quickly. The race advertises a 6-hour cutoff, but if you arrived at Waterfront Park 6 hours after the start, you would have found the finish line are half-stripped, already. First off, no early start offered. That should have warned me. Then, out on the course, bicycle support was provided to the last group averaging a 6-hour pace, but not to any of the 30 or so folks behind that, including some folks who were in far worse shape than I. At mile 23 on the bike path, I encountered one older participant who was being helped down the course by two of his comrades because he clearly couldn't walk on his own. Where you would have hoped for bike escorts or medical personnel for assistance, there were none. At the finish, they turned off the announcer's computers before they were ready to stop calling out the names of runners as they approached the finish. Somehow, "Way to go, number 2940" just doesn't have the same ring. At the food tent, we got the last of the bagels, bananas and Ben and Jerry's (sans spoons, or any fluids). The beer garden was waterlogged from the rain, but the fact that they were packing it up as folks were still coming across the line was disheartening. The coup de gras came when I went to get my checked bag. Near as I could tell, that tent closed up right around 2 p.m., so if you came in around 6 hours, or if you came in earlier than that, but went to get food or get in line for a massage, you were out of luck. They moved all the bags to the marathon's central office, only about two blocks away, and at least I was familiar enough with downtown Burlington that I could find it. And I keep my truck keys on me in my fanny pack on every race. But if what you needed in order to get home was in your checked bag, and folks are from out of town, I could see them having great anxiety over having to leave the finish area to find it. As a race director, myself, I can fathom the need to reopen streets to traffic. So I understand the desire to shut down a course at a certain time. But the last 5 miles of this marathon are on a bike path that isn't closed to other users - so it doeesn't need to be cleared of race participants! So if the finish line shuts down before everyone who made the bike path has finished the race, the reason must be that someone in race management wanted to cut costs. That's all well and good, but then don't advertise a six-hour minimum pace. Of the 15 marathons I have completed, all in a 5:26 to 6:37 pace {save for two that I did slower to escort some of my trainees to the finish), none have been as eager to get the heck out of Dodge as this one. So while VCM seems like a good race, generally, it's not good for anybody slower than say, a 5-hour, or 5:15 pace (12 minutes per mile). This race let me cross Vermont off the list, but, sorry, I don't think I'll be back anytime soon. | |
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G. K. from Kingsport, TN
(6/1/2007)
"A fun race but not a PR-type course" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Vermont City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 This is a fun race - pretty strong crowd support throughout the course, raucous finish area, some interesting scenery, and lots of locals banging and drumming. But... the start is poorly controlled, the race is crowded, and much of the course is narrow. It's difficult to find and sustain a steady gait. The finish area is very congested, so it is hard to meet up with your supporters. In 2007 it rained so the finish area was pretty messy. This seems like a race that has a few thousand too many runners for the course, which makes it interesting for the people-watching opportunities but not a race to use for a PR attempt. | |
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D. H. from Portland, Oregon
(6/1/2007)
"Very good marathon" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Vermont City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is a good marathon for both first-timers and experienced marathoners. A couple of observations that prior reviewers omitted or had different views about: The course is more hilly than one might expect from the elevation chart. The first 17 miles have many hills (up and down). They can take their toll on one's legs, making the last flat miles more difficult than anticipated. The bike path, while flat, had relatively uneven pavement, which tired ankles don't enjoy. On the other hand, I sure liked the scenery there. Not boring as some have said. The course was more scenic than I expected. Lots of green fields, trees, and nice neighborhoods. Also, lots of friendly spectators, but it's definitely not true that "the whole town turned out," I had read. Those who did come were vocal and appreciated. Well organized. No major glitches that I saw. Having 2 gel stations on the course was a further plus. Most marathons only have one or none. Mile markers were easy to see. There were even a couple of helpful signs indicating how far to the next aid station. Finish area was well done and not overly crowded. An easy-to-find information booth at the end (with VERY helpful staff) was also something that you don't find at every marathon. Finally, the local area is very interesting and it's worth spending 2-3 days in to see the local sights and attractions. Overall, I recommend it. | |
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RON BRENNER from LAKE PLACID, NEW YORK
(5/31/2007)
"FIRST-CLASS RACE WITH AMAZING CROWD SUPPORT!!" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Vermont City Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was the 7th consecutive year I have done this race. It continues to be an amazing race. The crowds are phenomenal. The town of Burlington embraces this race and makes you feel welcome! I will do this race for as many years as my legs will allow! | |
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M. B. from Albany, NY
(5/31/2007)
"Great first marathon!" (about: 2007)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Vermont City Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon and I trained for several months in anticipation. I had a lot of fun running it. The course is generally scenic and takes you through the city of Burlington 3 times and to the outlying areas. The volunteers were great and there was plenty of water and Gatorade at every stop. I have never drank so much Gatorade in my life! It was very well organized. I learned a lot about running this distance. I got leg cramps around mile 20 and had to slow down a little. It rained hard around mile 22 but it was refreshing. I would definitely run this marathon again. | |
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A. G. from CT
(5/30/2007)
"Great City/Great Race" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Vermont City Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Another great VCM. Thank you. | |
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J. D. from USA
(5/30/2007)
"Great organization; course not as good as expected" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Vermont City Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Burlington knows how to support a marathon - the staff, volunteers, spectators, local merchants, and race director are all first-rate. The course, however, left a lot to be desired. I was very excited to run this race, based on the comments posted here; however, I was very disappointed. The course is crowded the entire way due to the massive number of relay runners; it is ridiculously disorienting due to the FOUR times you loop back through the start area in the first half of the race; the two sections of bike path/multipurpose trail are dangerously narrow and full of potholes (circled by white spray paint); and the overall description of the course being "not very hilly" is misleading. Having said all this, I still enjoyed it tremendously and was happy with my time - it was just more work than I was expecting based on the reviews. Perhaps the gorgeous beauty of the green mountain state overwhelmed the folks who submitted such comments - understandable given that this is a stunning location and one that all runners should experience at least once. | |
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D. H. from Roanoke, VA
(5/29/2007)
"Near the Top of My Marathon List" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Vermont City Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 To quote a lady runner as we turned down the paved trail along the railroad track, "A suprise around every corner." Of my 49 marathons, it was one of the most enjoyable. I know it takes a village to pull off a marathon with such class. The volunteers were awesome! The neighbors were very friendly as we ran by their homes. Many shared their music to help us pick up our feet a little higher. Others shared watermelon slices, orange slices, bananas, and candy. I appreciate the time that it took to circle the dips along one trail in white. For the first time in writing many marathon critiques, I have nothing negative to say. However, I would like to offer one suggestion: putting straws in the sports drinks along the way would have been very helpful. Thanks again to your leaders and the village for pulling off a marathon that is near the top of my list, right under Boston and New York City. After I finish the 50 states, I would love to return to Burlington to run it again. | |
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D. S. from Michigan
(5/29/2007)
"A well-supported race!!!" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Vermont City Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I really liked the convenience of the shuttle buses back and forth to the race. Everyone in town is geared up for the event and very accommodating for out-of-towners. Businesses, restaurants, local media... this race is a big deal in Vermont! The course was OK. You are running out and back in various directions so family can see you several times as you run through the center of town. With all the fan support, going up and down Church Street was my favorite part. Organization was great though. They overcompensated with the aid stations this year (I suppose because it was so hot in 2006), but that just shows that the race officials really care. This race is a big relay event, and my only real criticism relates to the transition zones. Specifically: the relay transition point just about midway where it funnels directly into a bottleneck (bike path). Fresh relay runners were zigging and bumping through all the slower marathon runners. | |
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A. N. from Boston, MA
(5/29/2007)
"A nice city that treats you well" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Vermont City Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran VCM two days ago in perfect weather (except for some thundershowers towards the end). There was great crowd support - much more than I expected, a good number of volunteers, sufficient water and aid stations, and everything one could ask for. The course is pretty for the most part, and has a lot of turns in it. There are some nice hills, so train for them; but they aren't killer hills. My only complaint is the layout of the finish line. You can't really see the finish until you are 200 feet away and there are a lot of turns at the very end. I hope the race organizers will choose to modify the finish line. I will recommend this race highly to beginners and pros alike. |
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